Christmas Break

We've enjoyed our first week of Christmas break.  The kids have been so relaxed, and this slow pace is exactly what we have needed.  We enjoyed going to see the lights at Valley Creek and then watching the place we visited on TV.  It was pretty cool that they won. This week we have off and will enjoy some more down time.  Jack has to work and I have to work on Tuesday.  We are also working on our science fair experiments. (the science fair is in February, but we have had deadlines starting back in October and continuing on).  I hope you all had a great Christmas with family and friends.

I Choose and Misc

Wednesday Jenna's class went to an outreach project.  We went to I Choose Pregnancy center and cleaned.  I enjoyed watching them.  We enjoyed going to a classmate's house and enjoying a class party afterward.

A couple of months ago Josh and I went to a race and I won a sign.  It said "Refuse to Sink" and had an anchor on it.  I really didn't like the saying so Jacob sanded down the sign.  I've never done a sign and was going to give it to someone to do for me, but since it was so small, I decided to try my hand at it.  This is what I ended up with.

Keeping Busy

December has been an on the go month and we are only on day 9!!  Monday of last week started with bball practice.  Tuesday and Wednesday we had basketball games to attend (both away).  Thursday Josh was sick but that night Jacob still performed in the MS Christmas program.  Friday was the ladies ornament exchange and Saturday we started the day with Golden Corral's company dinner at the Angus Barn Pavilion and then I had another "party" on Saturday night.  Sunday was the kids program at church.  This week picked right off....last night another basketball game and tonight basketball practice.  We have Wednesday to "breathe" and then head for another game on Thursday.  We can breathe again until Saturday night as Josh has a youth activity and I have our Southside dinner.  I love December, but I must admit it gets a little crazy around here!!

Basketball season

We are almost done with November and that means our house is busy again with basketball.  Seems like we are either at a game or running to practice.  This year the school has 9th and 10th grades so they were able to add a JV team.  Unfortunately since the school is small, they had to take two of the 8th grade players and let them play with them.  Although this didn't seem like something we wanted, it actually worked out for us.  Joshua is team captain of the middle school team.  He doesn't think it is a honor, but I keep telling him it is an honor.  I am constantly having this as a teaching experience telling him that God has put him in a leadership position and he needs to step up to be the leader. He is learning and has a way to go, but I have seen so much improvement in him.  I've seen him pass the ball more and encourage his teammates.  I am still trying to teach him how to stay positive and keep his team "up" even when down by 20-30 points.  I know that is hard.  Who wants to play when things are that bad....but hopefully that is something he will try to learn and pass on to his teammates.

As a mom, he is always teaching me new things.  That child is an over-comer.  Things don't come easy for him, but he just keeps fighting and always seems to find a way.  I am so proud of him.  I love to watch my kids in sports or any activities they choose.  Along that note though I would ask my fellow readers to please pray for him.  I want to keep him eligible.  He is struggling in something he has never struggled with before.....science.  The teacher is good and knows her stuff....but maybe knows it too well and has taken them deeper than ever before.  I know that a lot of students are finding this class (and teacher) more difficult than before, so of course this makes it even harder for Josh.  Just pray that he can maintain his grade so that he can continue to play and of course, pass the class.

Goodbye October

October was a fun month.  Not only was there the Grand Canyon trip but I also went with Jenna and her class (and the other 5th grade class) to Hill Ridge Farms on a field trip.  We also went to the state fair.  Josh loved going to the Army booth and doing pullups for them.  He was able to do 10 of them!!  Impressive, especially since I can't do one!  We also saw the News Boys that night in concert.  That's what we've done.  November will just be just as busy I am sure.

Last Post on Trip

Here is my last post so that I can move on to other things.  We flew into Salt Lake City and I fell in love!! (other than the fact that the Mormons were all over the airport).  There were mountains all around the airport and the view from the plane was incredible.  We even saw the Grand Canyon from above.  I would love to go back and visit Salt Lake City and stay a little longer!!

Grand Canyon

Of course the highlight of the trip was the grand canyon.  To me it was like seeing Niagara Falls....you can see pictures, but nothing like seeing it in person.  We took a tour company over there and we stopped in Sedona to see the red rocks.  This was absolutely beautiful as well.  We stopped at an Indian trading company place and got to see the painted desert as well.  Last stop was the Grand Canyon.

Arizona Trip

I will post on this several times.  First of all, let me give the story about our trip.  It has been on my bucket list to see the Grand Canyon.  Jack and I thought about going to Las Vegas last summer and traveling over, but we just couldn't do it.  We also decided that this was a trip that we should really take the kids.  I thought it would be impossible.  The kids were out of school Thursday and Friday so we looked into going back to Disney.  A three day stay/park visit (even though there are 4 parks) would run us over $2600, not including the gas and meals.  I just couldn't swallow that.  We checked the GC, and at the time it was cheaper, but only by $600.  I prayed about it several times and asked if God would drop the price.  One time it did, but I would have to leave early Wednesday morning, and I didn't think we should take the kids out or use another vacation day.  I told Jack about it and he told me I should have grabbed it.  I can't believe how much trips vary from day to day or week to week.  I learned that you should look for trips on Tuesday afternoons after 3 because the rates usually drop on those days.  Every week I would check.  I played with so many variables.  One Tuesday afternoon the price dropped again and Jack told me to book it.  We got hotel and airfare for much less than the Disney vacation. The fun part was that the kids never had flown before!!  Jenna got caught through security for packing hair detangler and Jacob got flagged and needed special screening for his cast.  We flew to Salt Lake City, Utah, which was incredibly beautiful!!  We flew over to Phoenix, rented a car and went to our resort in Carefree, AZ.  These are just a few pictures of the resort area.

balloon day

Today was a half day at school and I was able to sub.  Sometimes being a sub has some benefits if things are going on.  Last week I subbed and got a free BBQ chicken plate and HUGE cookie.  Today was balloon day.  If the teachers signed a waiver, they could go up in the balloon.  Of course the balloon was tied down so it could only go so high, but now I can say I have been in a hot air balloon.  It was so cool.  Here are pictures of the balloon getting inflated, the balloon going up, the view of Jenna's class from the balloon (even though I didn't sub for her class)  and then the kids got to help take the air out (like squeezing toothpaste out of a container).  I was actually kinda dreading having to sub, but I am so glad I did.